Beth pushed him back. “So you’re not nervous about this?”
Worrying wasn’t going to do him any good. “I won’t let anything happen that would ruin Cassie’s party.”
Beth lit up. “Doesn’t Abby look adorable today?”
Out the back window, Cassie and a couple cheered as Abby walked through the grass. “She’s a cute kid.”
Beth nodded toward the other side of the room, her eyes directed behind Brendan. Brendan turned to see Connor walk in the front door with a pretty blond on his arm. They met in the living room, and Connor wrapped his arms around Brendan’s shoulders. “I’m glad you’re here,” Connor said.
Brendan cocked his head. “You heard I was invited?”
Connor’s eyes squinted. “Will told me.” He pointed a thumb at the door. “I saw him outside getting something out of his truck.”
Brendan hid the unsettled feeling in his stomach and turned to the woman standing by Connor. “You must be Laura.”
“Yes, and you must be Brendan,” she said with a sweet smile. “Your brother has told me so much about you.”
Brendan grinned. “Uh-oh.”
Laura laughed, but her shoulders stiffened.
She and Cassie had an unfair advantage because they knew far more about him than he knew about them. When Brendan looked up, Will stood in the entryway, and the buzz of the party halted to a stop.
Connor jumped in to break the tension. He took the bag of ice from Will’s hands. “Look who’s here. All three brothers together. When’s the last time that happened?”
Brendan’s pulse raced, but he didn’t speak, waiting to see how his stone-faced brother would react.
Will’s expression didn’t change. “Hi, Brendan.”
All the faces in the room moved from Will to Brendan. “Hey. It’s great to see you,” he said in his best attempt to lighten the mood.
An awkward silence hung between them. His brother’s eyes searched the room. “Where’s my girl?”
Brendan turned around, and Cassie set Abby on the floor. Will reached out his arms as Abby toddled to him on shaky legs.
Will’s blank expression broke into a tender smile. He scooped his daughter up in his arms. “There she is. Let’s go look at those balloons outside.”
Brendan stepped out of the way as Will walked by him without even a glance. It was worse than he’d expected. Will had always spoken his mind. For him to have nothing to say was uncharted territory for Brendan.
Everyone in the room turned away and scattered throughout the house, and once again Brendan felt the familiar stab of being on the outside.
A hand touched Brendan’s shoulder. “Hey,” Beth said softly as she walked around him.
Brendan shrugged. “It’s fine. I didn’t expect much.”
She nodded. “Your mom and dad are here.”
He glanced over to where his dad helped his mom with her jacket. “They didn’t see that, did they?”
Beth shook her head. “No. They just walked in.”
He took a deep breath and looked back for Beth, but she’d disappeared to the kitchen.
His father made his way over to him. He poked at Brendan’s ribs like Brendan was still a kid. “Did you come home to work for me?”
The sound of Will’s voice through the open window made Brendan’s stomach clench, but Brendan kept the forced smile on his face for his parents’ sake. “Trust me. You don’t want me building any houses or making any deals. Overman Real Estate would be bound to go under.”
His mom embraced him in a bear hug. “It’s so good to have you in Wyatt Bend again,” she said as his father nodded behind her.
Chapter 6
Beth sliced another square of the white cake and slid it onto the paper plate. Cassie handed it to the next person in line and leaned in close beside Beth. “The reunion between Will and Brendan isn’t going like I had planned.”
Beth gave her friend a sympathetic smile. “I know. I wish there was something we could do.”
Every time Brendan had walked within ten feet of Will, Will walked away and acted as if his brother didn’t exist. Beth couldn’t blame Will for being angry at Brendan for not being at the wedding or there to meet Abby during the first year of her life.
Cassie straightened the napkins. “Will is so headstrong. It’s one of the things I love about him, but when it comes to family, sometimes you have to give in a little.”
Cassie spoke from experience. Beth had helped her through a tough time with her own family, but God had healed Cassie’s relationships with her mom and sister.
Beth cut another piece of cake and handed it to Cassie. “Brendan rode with me. Maybe if I stall and we’re here after everyone else leaves, they’d be more likely to talk.”
Cassie’s eyes opened wide. “That’s a great idea.” Cassie cut into the piece of cake with her fork. “Why did you two come together? And don’t give me that carpool excuse again.”
Beth blew out the tension in her chest. “He asked me to come with him. I refused at first, but he thought it would diffuse things a little bit. Apparently things aren’t working out like he planned either.”
Cassie turned her back to the party and fixed her eyes on Beth’s. “So you’re not interested in him?”
The air rushed out of Beth. “No! Of course I’m not interested in him.”
Cassie’s eyebrows rose.
Sure, a man as good-looking and exciting as Brendan would always generate a spark in Beth’s heart, but she was finished with guys like Brendan. He had simply been the first in a long history of boyfriends who were no good for her. If she dated at all, she needed to find a calm, stable guy.
Beth leaned back. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
Cassie’s eyes darted to the plastic tablecloth. She shook her head. “I don’t know, Beth.” She moved in closer. “There’s something about the Overman brothers. They drive you crazy, and then, somehow, we end up falling for them.”
Beth shook her head. “It’s not going to happen.” She picked up an empty fruit tray and carried it toward the kitchen.
Besides, Beth had promised her grandmother she would make a stable life for Chase, which meant being more careful with her heart. Beth had bounced from one bad relationship to another in her twenties, and she was done dating the wrong kind of man.
Cassie followed her and took the tray from her hands. “You’re not working today. You’re our guest.”
Beth rubbed her fingers across her eyes. Why did talk of Brendan get her so frazzled?
Cassie ducked her head. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t suggesting you date him or anything. I don’t even know the guy. I should keep my nose out of it.”
Beth peeked around the cabinets to make sure everyone was out of earshot. “It’s fine, but he’s different from Will and Connor. They’re stable and dependable. Brendan is …” Beth fought for the right word. “Infuriating.”
Cassie nodded and bit at her bottom lip. She put a hand on Beth’s shoulder. “You’re doing a nice thing trying to help him.”
Over Cassie’s shoulder, Abby moved herself around the wooden coffee table to the stack of gifts on the stone fireplace. Beth nudged Cassie. “I think you better open your presents before your daughter opens them for you.”
Cassie set the plate of cake on the counter and rushed over to her.
Beth walked around the counter and sat on the iron bar stool.
Cassie pulled a white bag from the coffee table. “Look who else got a present,” Cassie said loud enough for everyone in the room to hear. “Abby’s uncle Brendan got her a belated birthday present.”
Brendan perked up from where he leaned on the wall near the front door. Will, who sat on the fireplace hearth, smiled at Cassie, but the line of his jaw tightened. Cassie perched Abby on her lap. The smile fell from Will’s face as he watched Cassie help Abby’s little fingers remove the tissue paper. Beth held her breath as Abby pulled out a plastic toy camera with a mirror on the front and a butterfly as
a flash. Abby’s screech of delight rang out through the room.
Cassie beamed up at Brendan who was still at the back of the room. “It’s perfect. Thank you, Brendan! Isn’t it perfect, Will?”
Cassie overdid it a little, but Beth appreciated her effort.
“Sure. It almost makes up for everything,” Will said with his brows drawn together.
A heavy blanket of silence landed over the room.
Beth searched for a reaction from Brendan. Nothing but the vein on the side of his neck flinched.
A shutter clicked, and the toy camera in Abby’s hands burst into song. Abby squealed with excitement.
Brendan’s mom, whose face was drawn tight, jumped in to help. “Oh, Abby. Show Grandma what you got.”
When all eyes turned back to the front of the room, Brendan snuck out the door. The latch closed with a snap. Cassie cut her eyes up toward Beth. Her friend had worked so hard to help her husband reconcile with his brother. Beth turned and tiptoed to the door to slip out behind Brendan. Brendan’s motorcycle boots pounded against the stone walkway as he stomped away from the house.
“Brendan, wait,” she called.
His feet stopped, but he didn’t turn to face her.
She jogged up to his tight shoulders and stepped in front of him. When he lifted his face to her, the anger she’d expected to find wasn’t there. The skin under his eyes hung loose, and his lips were pale.
She raked the side of her finger against the arm of his shirt. “You okay?”
The softness in his face vanished. “Beth, I’m out of here. I’m obviously not welcome in his home.”
Her lips parted as she jiggled her head. “You can’t leave now.”
A dimple formed on his chin as his jaw clenched. “I’m not going to force Will into doing something he doesn’t want to do, and he doesn’t want to talk to me.”
Beth took a deep breath. Abby deserved to have her uncle in her life. “No. I mean, you can’t leave. You came with me. Your motorcycle is still in town.”
Brendan’s face fell, and he scrubbed it with his open palms.
Beth looked up at him until his eyes met hers, and her heart ached to protect him.
“Did you see the way he kept Abby away from me?” Brendan’s hollow voice asked. “Like I’m not worthy of being around his daughter. And the way he looks at me like I’m some kind of villain.”
Beth stepped closer to Brendan. “Prove him wrong. Be there when he’s ready to talk. If you leave now, you’ll always wonder if you missed your chance.”
Brendan’s eyes widened, but his eyelids were heavy. “I guess you’re right. I’ll wait until he’s ready.”
Brendan tied the drawstring on the trash bag. “Where should I put this, Cassie?”
Cassie stood beside Beth at the sink as she rinsed a glass under the running faucet. Cassie pointed at the door. “The trash barrel is around on the side of the house.”
Brendan walked out the front door and across the stone walkway to the corner of the house. The sun was dipping down behind the walls of the canyon, leaving everything washed in golden hues. Brendan wished he had his camera with him.
After the other guests had left, Brendan helped Cassie and Beth clean up. Will gave Cassie a kiss on the cheek and told her he would give Abby a bath and tuck her into bed, then he disappeared down the hallway. Thirty minutes later, he still hadn’t reemerged.
Brendan dropped the trash bag in the can. He heard the back door slam, and he looked around the corner to the back of the house expecting to see Cassie or Beth. Will walked toward him, his head down, carrying a disposable diaper.
“Hi,” Brendan said.
Will’s head jerked up, and his feet froze. “I didn’t realize you were still here.”
“Beth and I were helping clean up after the party.”
Will swallowed. “Oh, thanks.”
Brendan shifted his weight on his feet. “I also wanted to talk to you,” Brendan said. He looked at the dirty diaper in Will’s hand. “This is not exactly how I pictured the conversation.” Brendan forced a laugh to lighten the mood. “But I guess I’ve waited long enough.”
Will passed by Brendan. He lifted the lid to the trash can and threw the diaper inside. He dusted his hands together. “What is it, Brendan?”
Brendan closed his eyes, trying to gather his words. “First off, I’m sorry that I just showed up here. I probably should have called before coming back to Wyatt Bend. I know this was unexpected.”
Will stuffed his hands deep in his pockets.
“I know I’ve missed a lot, and I wanted to come back to Wyatt Bend to say I’m sorry for not coming to your wedding and for not being here when Abby was born. I regret not being a part of those moments in your life.”
Will shook his head. “I don’t understand. Why are you doing this now, Brendan? After all these years?”
Brendan stared out toward the red canyon. “I guess I’m figuring out what’s important in life.”
Will raked his fingers through his hair, just like he had when he was a kid. “I waited for you to come back for years, and you never showed. You hardly called. I’d finally come to terms with it, and you suddenly show up and want to jump in where we left off?”
Brendan cleared his throat. “We don’t have to—”
Will balled his hands up and flexed them out. “You can’t come in here and get everybody’s hopes up and then disappear for years without even calling at Christmas.” He stared at Brendan and pointed a finger to his own chest. “I’m the one who’s going to be watching Mom cry when you leave and seeing the disappointment on Connor’s face when you don’t show up for one of his big days.”
All these years Brendan had convinced himself everyone was better off without him. “I know I should have been here for the wedding.”
“It’s not just the wedding,” Will shot back. “You didn’t come home when your niece was born. You didn’t come home when Mom was sick. You weren’t here for holidays.”
Brendan took in a deep gulp of air.
“Brendan?” Beth called from the front porch. “Are you ready?” she asked as she came around the side of the house.
She froze when she came face-to-face with the two men. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt.” She turned around to leave.
“Wait,” Will said.
Beth turned her face toward him.
“We’re done here,” Will said. “I think we’ve said everything there is to be said right now.”
Chapter 7
Brendan steered his motorcycle off the dirt road onto one of the tire tracks in front of the red metal gate. Too bad he didn’t have a fishing pole on his bike. This place had his favorite pond around Wyatt Bend. Mr. Perkins, the farmer who owned the land, used to run him off it every chance he got.
Brendan climbed from his bike. The motley-faced cattle behind the barbed-wire fence watched him as they chewed their grass. Today he wasn’t here to fish. Brendan pulled his camera from the saddlebag. After his disastrous encounter with his brother yesterday, Brendan needed a camera in his hands to clear his mind.
Brendan changed the lens and got the familiar rush of having the weight of the camera in his hands. He hadn’t had a chance to take any shots since he’d gotten to Wyatt Bend. A scissortail swooped from a limb of the mesquite in front of Brendan. Brendan stooped to one knee and focused the lens on the bird. The familiar clicks of the shutter gave him a jolt of adrenaline.
As a photojournalist, he didn’t get as many opportunities as he would have liked to take nature photographs, which was his true passion. He had loved his fast-paced job in journalism at first, but eventually the excitement waned. He’d spent too many days sitting in a hot news van outside courthouses and in stuffy rooms waiting for press conferences to begin. Taking photos for breaking stories got his blood pumping, but something about being out here felt right.
If they offered him the job he had interviewed for with the London AP bureau, he hoped the new job in a new cit
y would revitalize his love for the profession.
He stepped back and refocused on the tree. The cloudy, fall sky was providing great lighting. He’d spent so much of his life behind this lens. From the moment he picked up a camera, he discovered it offered an unexpected form of protection between him and the rest of the world.
He captured a few more photos before the bird fluttered back to the limb of the tree. Brendan stood and dusted the grass from his jeans. He walked the perimeter of the property, the tall grass scraping against his jeans, and snapped photos of the horizon and the old metal windmill rattling in the breeze. When the sun moved and the good light faded, Brendan followed the fence line back to the front gate.
As he approached the dirt road, blue and red lights flashed beside his motorcycle.
He shook his head. “Not again,” he muttered under his breath.
A police car sat parked on the edge of the road, and a man in uniform stood with his back to Brendan.
“Can I help you, officer?” Brendan said to the back of the man’s head.
The man in uniform whipped around, his hand on the handle of his gun.
Jimmy’s ridiculous mustache scrunched up to his nose. “Now you hold on right where you are.”
Brendan held his arms up in feigned fear, his camera still in hand. “What’s going on, Jimmy?”
Jimmy sauntered over to him. “Mr. Perkins called. Said some stranger was trespassing on his land and fishing in his pond.”
Trespassing, maybe. Fishing, Brendan wished. “Well, as you can see, it’s only me, and I don’t have a fishing pole—only a camera. Besides, I’m headed out right now.”
Jimmy held his palm out in front of him. “I don’t think so, Brendan.”
The irritation at Jimmy burst out of Brendan in a laugh. “What in the world are you talking about?”
Jimmy’s chest puffed out. “I think we need to go down to the station to straighten this out,” he said in a thicker than usual Oklahoma accent. “We’ll leave it up to Mr. Perkins whether or not he wants to press charges.”
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